NIGHT POLICE IN CORTLAND

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, November 30, 1888.

Something About Night Police.

   The business men who subscribed to the night police fund met at Firemen's Hall on the afternoon of Oct 12. At that meeting the committee managing the fund presented a full report of their transactions up to that time, which report was unanimously adopted and the doings of the committee were ratified. It appeared that only about a dozen of all the business men called upon had refused to contribute to the fund.

   Among other suggestions, a resolution was adopted that the committee instruct the policemen to try the doors and watch the premises of those only who were contributors; and at a meeting of the Directors of the Board of Trade, the Monday following, such instructions were given.

   It was also recommended that at the expiration of the first three months a report of the work done by the policemen be published. In accordance therewith, the following quarterly report has been prepared:

   Perhaps the most important work done by the night police, and that best appreciated by the general public, has been in the line of clearing the streets of the disorderly, half intoxicated loafers that have heretofore made a practice of gathering at the street corners and insulting passersby. The improvement on Main street, in this respect since August 1, has been most noteworthy. There have been thirty one arrests made by the night policemen during the past three months as follows:

   During August: 6 for public intoxication, 2 for disorderly conduct,1 for assault.

   During September: 9 for public intoxication.

   During October: 8 for public intoxication, 4 for disorderly conduct, 1 for assault.

   The punishments inflicted have been as follows: 13 went to the county jail for periods ranging from ten to twenty days; 3 went to the Onondaga penitentiary for ninety days each; 9 paid fines aggregating $82.65; 6 were reprimanded and discharged.

   It is unnecessary to comment on the manifold advantages of such work as this, both to the general public and to the business men as well.

   Another feature of night police work, however, is of more especial interest and benefit to our business men than the above. During the past three months the doors of twenty two business places have been found open after the occupants had put out the lights and left them for the night. In each case the places have been guarded until the proper persons could be notified. The night policemen have also rescued and cared for various articles of personal property, ranging from bananas to buckskin gloves that have been left out of doors by our confiding shopkeepers.

    They have also done good work in the way of preventing fires. Two incipient conflagrations were discovered by them in the rear of the Cortland House which might have proven disastrous but for their prompt action. They also discovered the recent fire in Hitchcock's foundry and gave the alarm promptly. Besides these they have discovered several others of a minor nature, any one of which might have otherwise resulted in great loss to our business community.

   Upon the whole and in the light of these events the committee in charge have become convinced that night police are a necessity to the welfare of the village and that their maintenance would more fittingly be a charge upon the public treasury than an object for private contribution.

It Still Floats to the Breeze.

   On Saturday Nov. 10, as is pretty well known, the Republicans held a jollification in this village, over the result of the election. They seemed to feel good all round and the kid in pantalettes vied with the gray haired veteran in pantaloons, in making both day and night one grand pandemonium of noisy exultation. We can stand whole ship loads of noise ordinarily, but we must confess that there were some elements about this particular conglomeration of disturbance, that grated upon the average Democratic tympanum, somewhat harshly.

   Go where you would, protection did not protect. The horrid racket was here, there and everywhere. The old barn yard fowls that had been indulging in a four years sleep, after campaigning for twenty-four years, were aroused from their slumbers and crowed as loud and looked as sassy and defiant as of old. The old gun was brushed up, and filled to the muzzle, belched forth sounds that seemed as dismal as in days past when it was almost in constant use.

   Millions of squeaking horns, that we fondly hoped had been long since lost or stolen and would never again be needed, were fished out from the dark recesses of the woodshed garret and very soon convinced honest, peaceful, law abiding Democrats, that age and rust and cobwebs had only added two or three extra horrors to their discordant notes. In fact the victors had a high old time and seemed to enjoy the terrible pandemonium they created.

   During the evening several hundred dollars worth of fire works were let off to the delight of all. It was noticeable, however, that nearly all their guns were aimed at the Prohibition banner on Main street. The portraits of both Fiske and Brooks and the names of the candidates and the netting were all completely destroyed, but the single word "Prohibition" still floats to the breeze in its accustomed place. It stood the fire of candles, and rockets and missiles of all sorts, and looks as fresh and impudent as it did when it was first run up.

   Is this a prophetic sign? Will the word "Prohibition" with all that the word implies, bring about the downfall and dissolution of the Republican party at no distant day? Who can tell?

A Good Thing.

   The Cortland Standard announces that it has secured a ruling from the post-office department that its supplement is not a supplement and, in consequence of this ruling, the proprietor proposes to make it as interesting and valuable as any other part of the paper. This is all very well, but it occurs to us that it hardly covers the situation. If the editor of the Standard could in some way obtain a ruling from the department, holding that any page in the Standard was interesting or valuable, it would come much nearer filling a "long felt want."

HERE AND THERE.

   We understand that H. J. Harrington is to be the Deputy County Clerk.

   Dr. De Marsen Spencer represented the DEMOCRAT at the funeral obsequies of the late Rev. B. F. McLoghlin.

   Letter carriers will make a full trip 9 A. M., Thanksgiving Day. The post office will be closed from 11 A. M. to 4 P. M.

   Mr. Charles Vincent will give a Thanksgiving party at his hotel in Cuyler, Thursday evening, November 29th. The music is always good and the supper can’t be beat. What more can any one ask for?

   We are under obligations to the Cortland Standard for the use of the excellent cut of the late Rev. B. F. McLoghlin, printed in another place. The one we were having made was not finished in time to reach us.

   One morning last week, while acting as engineer in Wickwire's wire works, Michael Finn had the end of the third finger on his left hand taken off by the machinery. Dr. Hughes dressed the injury, which is very painful.

   It is not considered good form to write on lined paper. The paper in best style is plain, moderately rough surfaced, and folds once in a square envelope. Bright colors are never elegant, and sealing wax and monograms and crests are entirely out of style.

   The post office force had their pictures taken last Saturday in a body. Mail agent R. F. Randall held a placard which read "Four, four, four months more," and letter carrier A. C. Upson held his gripsack already picked in his hand. Evidently the boys don’t believe in "Snivel service reform."

   It is announced that paper bottles are to be manufactured on a very extensive scale. The weight is less than glass or stoneware, and they are less liable to breakage. Paper being also an excellent nonconductor, fluids stored in air tight paper bottles will withstand a more intense degree of heat or cold than when put in ordinary bottles—Exchange.

   The new glass for the front of the First National Bank arrived last Friday, and was put in position the same afternoon. The glass was made by the Pittsburg Glass Co., of Creighton, Pa., and is 12 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 7 inches, [3/8] inch thick, and weighs 825 1/2 pounds. It cost $725, and it is understood that there is only one pane of glass of larger dimensions in the State.

   Daniel McNish & Co. have taken possession of the Cortland Steam Mill, on Port Watson St., and are ready to see customers. They propose to keep constantly on hand all sorts of mill stuffs, and will be pleased to receive a share of the patronage of the public. They have had experience in the business, and feel confident that they can please all who give them an opportunity.

  

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   TOMPKINS.— The bridge which will span Cascadilla creek on Stewart Avenue, Ithaca, will be furnished by the Groton Bridge company.

   Dryden is considerably exercised over a case in Justice court, in which a white woman of that town swears the paternity of her child upon a colored man.

   Messrs. Thomas B. Campbell and W. L. Bostwick, of Ithaca, have been awarded the contract of constructing the east pier of the proposed bridge across the Hudson river, below Newburgh.

   The directors of the Test Well Company near Ithaca, have been served with a notice by Miss Mary F. Mack, owner of the lands upon which the test well is located, that the flow of water must be stopped. This action on the part of Miss Mack is made necessary owing to the fact that the strong saline properties of the water which continually flows from the well has caused much damage to the crops raised up on the lands. A meeting of the directors was called for Monday afternoon for the purpose of taking action in the matter, but as a sufficient number failed to put in an appearance, the meeting was postponed.

PAGE TWO/EDITORIALS.

   It is a wonder that it didn't occur to brother Clark to have Jim Belden's name included in the clergymen's certificate to Warner Miller's temperance principles. Jim is a better temperance man than Miller ever was, and it would have been pleasing to him to know that his integrity as a man had been vouched for by the clergymen of Cortland. We suggest to our neighbor, that in all future campaigns he procure a sort or blanket policy from our clergy, covering the entire ticket. It wouldn't take any more time and there is no doubt but that such a certificate would be easily secured.

   It must be to decidedly refreshing to those clergymen of this place, who took occasion just before election to publicly vouch for Mr. Warner Miller's temperance principles and his integrity as a man, to know that he now repudiates any question of principle in the matter and bluntly avows that his only object in espousing the cause of high license, was to win votes from the Prohibitionists over to Harrison, who was running on a free whiskey platform. To be taken in and completely done for by so cheap a politician as Warner Miller, would be decidedly galling to the commonest sort of politician. If our clergymen know as little about religion as they do about politics, those members of their congregations who fail to take to the woods when Gabriel blows his horn, will have much to regret. Even children can be too innocent. [Miller challenged Gov. Hill and was defeated--CC editor.]